This is the facade of our new favorite Northampton café, which happens to be located in Florence. People who live in Florence say they’re from Florence, not Northampton, which is true because Florence is very much its own place, with its own personality and ambiance. But it’s also true that they live in Northampton, because Florence is in Northampton. Confused? Don’t be, it’s just Northampton being quirky again, like with its parking garage-cum-art gallery.

In any event, the Cup and Top Café has its own distinctive personality, with bells on! It’s plain and a little worn around the edges and the menus are hand-lettered on chalkboard. It’s the opposite of slick, you might say. But the welcome is casually warm, and the coffee is good and the tea is outstanding (I’m a tea drinker myself) and the sandwiches look like your mom made them for you, and the Yumbelicious cookies are to die for.

Mothers with toddlers in tow usually gravitate toward the back section, while up front are computer heads, usually solo, gay ladies or guys who lunch, a few working stiffs, and even some oldies like us. The cup, I suppose, stands for coffee, and the top, well, it’s a toy so maybe it means kids are welcome. After all, they are. Everybody’s welcome at the Cup and Top. It’s a special place, and if you come to visit, I’ll probably take you here, even before we go check out the croissants at 40 Green Street Lunch.

Here’s a sampler gallery of what you’ll see when we go to the Cup and Top:

We don’t like no stuck-up, sticky beaks around heeyah, especially if they are from Florentine. Of course that bein’ Florence, Austraaaaalia. Right next to the blimey Depaaaahtment of Philosophy, where there are NO POOFTAHS!!!!

Looks to be a great cafe. You gave me a smile when you talked about people from Florence not saying they’re from Northampton. I live in Finchley but, if asked, I usually tell people that I’m from The Peoples Republic of East Finchley – we’re definitely a bit different here from the rest of Finchley (though whether that’s a good thing is open to debate!). 😉

Thanks about the photo gallery, Rebekah — it was such a tough fight to get that thing up and running, I was thrilled to see it appear.
And we’re on for the Cup and Top, now just think about a trip down to MA in the spring! 🙂

Ooh, you remind me about Sencha. I have seen in my cupboard and I forgot about it. Now I’ll try it again, thank you!
Matcha is so bitter! But it’s beautiful, and I love the part in a tea ceremony when you whisk it up to a froth with the pretty bamboo whisk.
Let’s do tea together!